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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

W. A. GUSHMAN. Iron Platform for Railway Gars.

No. 243,430. Patented June 28,1881.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2` (No Model.)

N0. 243,430. Patented .lunel 28, 1881.

N. PETERS. Pnmmhagnpm wnzngum D. c.

UNITED STATES vPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. CUSHMAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

` iRoN PLATFORM FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 243,430, dated June 28, 1881.

Application led February 28, 1881.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. GUsnMAN, of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Iron Platforms for RailwayGars, of which the following is a specification.

Tubes have been employed in the construction of iron ear-platforms.

My present invention relates to the peculiar manner of connecting the iron tubes, and to the combination therewith of wooden end bearers, as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side view of part of the platform at one end. Fig. 2 is a section through the tubes and end beam, in larger size. Fig. 3is a section at w x, inlarger size, showing the ends of the transverse bearer for the trucks; and Fig. 4 is sections of the iron employed. Fig. 5 is a plan of the tubes at one end of the platform, and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the same at the line y y.

The longitudinal tubes a a extend from end to end of the car, and they are kept at proper distances from each other by blocks b, and they are tied together by the bands c, as heretofore usual.

At the ends of the car-platform there are transverse iron beams d, of a E shape, and of a width to receive between the horizontal anges the ends of the horizontal tubes, as seen in Fig. 2, and there are short cup-shaped hubs h, that are riveted to the beams d, and these are of a size to pass into or around the ends of the tubes d and form a strong connection between the tubes and the end beams, d, to prevent lateral motion; and there may also be pins inserted transversely through the tubes and hubs to connect them longitudinally.

There is a wooden safety-block, Z, at the middle of the end of the platform, outside the iron beam d, to lessen concussion upon the metal platform, and to leave a space between the beams d of two separate cars, and thereby protect the person that couples the cars when they are run together. The draft-beams m pass beneath the beam d back toward the transom-beam o and king-boit, and these draftbeams m are secured by bolts 3 to a draftplank, fn, that is above them, and their ends pass in between the anges of the end beam, d, as seen in Fig. 2, so as to secure the draft- (No model.)

beams to each other and to the iron work of the platform. It is generally preferable to have two of these draft-beams near the longitudinal center of the platform, but at a Asufficient distance apart to allow for the introduction of the draft-bar and its springs between them.

The transom-beam o is made of either E or I iron, as shown-in Fig. 4, and the same passes between the longitudinal tubes a; and there are saddles s upon the transom-beam, having semicircular recesses for the reception of the tubes, and these saddles are riveted or bolted at 8 to the transom-beam.

In some cases the transom-beam may be composed of two iron beams, 0 and o', as seen in Fig. 1, and the beam for thekingboltbe placed between them.

I also make use of longitudinal tie-rod braces t, passing horizontally through the beam 1,.

along over the transom-beams o o', and down beneath a cross-bearer, near the middle of the cars, below the tubes, and up againover the transom-beam, and to the other end of the carplatform.

In some cases I employ tie-rods t3, running through some of the tubes c from end to end toinsure a firm connection ofthe end beams, d, such tie-rods taking the places of the rivets that secure the hub h, as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and 6.

In Letters Patent No. 185,446 an iron end beam is shown with the tubes passing through the same and swelled. This manner of uniting the parts is not sufficiently strong to withstand the concussion to which they are subjected. In my improvement the ends of the tubes abut against the end beam, and the hubs form a very reliable connection of such tubes to the end beam.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the longitudinal tubes in acar-platforin,of the end beam of iron, and the cylindrical hubs fastened to the iron beam and connecting with the ends of the tubes, substantially as set forth.

2. The trough-shaped iron transom-beam, in combination with the longitudinal tubes passing at each side of the transom-beam, andthe saddles between the tubes and transom-beam, substantially asset forth.

l l t 3. In combination with the metal end beam, d, and the tubes a, the wooden safety-block l outside the beam d, the draft-beams m, passin g beneath the beam d and safety-block L, and bolted thereto, and the draft-plank u, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the iron tubos a, iron end beam, d, Wooden beam Z, and draftbeams m, the tie-rod brace t, passing through the end beams over the transom-beam and beneath a bearer, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a metallic car-platform, of longitudinal tubes and the end beams, d, with tie-rods passingfrom end to end through two or more of the tubes, substantially as set 15 forth.

6. The combination, With the longitudinal tubes in the car-platform, ofthe transverse iron beam d, against which the ends of. the tubes abut, and means for connecting such'tubes to zo 

